FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices • Hacker News Board

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#401

Post by Dylan16807 » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 7:13 AM UTC

AceyMan wrote: post #399

Dylan16807 wrote: post #393

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The ATF is simply going on function rather than form. It shoots like a machine gun it is a machine gun no matter what you call it. The part where it breaks down is pointing at a specific piece that enables automatic fire and calling that piece a "machine gun", even if it's just a tiny piece of metal or a specially-tied shoelace.

If it carries the "machine gun" ability with it, it's like ... The Enchanted Seer of Automatic Firing. It turns a 'plain gun' into a machine gun, and there are almost no other ways to do that. So it seems like calling it "a machine gun" is reasonable from linguistic perspective. #wittgenstein

I don't think the "almost no other ways to do that" part holds up.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#402

Post by intended » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 7:33 AM UTC

jimmaswell wrote: post #271

jfengel wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a move afoot to eliminate all regulations unless they've been specifically passed by Congress. Which is basically incapable of passing anything. Ironically, that inherent dysfunction is the main reason to suspect that won't happen. But politically, every regulation as automatically partisan, even when it has overwhelming support.

> There is a move afoot to eliminate all regulations unless they've been specifically passed by Congress. Which is basically incapable of passing anything. (At least some of) the agencies brought this on themselves with their abuse of the goodwill/benefit of the doubt previously afforded to them. Most flagrant has been the ATF, for one example constantly redefining machine guns or pistol braces, turning millions of c…

There’s always one part I find worth adding about government being ripe for abuse.

Everything is ripe for abuse.

———-

Right now, agencies are the defensive structures. Corporations which own media or parties that are effectively corporations - are the threat.

One of the specific defenses that’s employed by private forces is reduction in trust of agencies.

——

All systems are vulnerable. It’s a question of relative vulnerability.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#403

Post by intended » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 7:38 AM UTC

eadmund wrote: post #286

throw10920 wrote: post #255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is a move afoot Who is behind this move? What individuals, and what politicians? By what legal means is this happening? I've literally never heard of anything like this before - without further details, this is just political flame-baiting.

> By what legal means is this happening? Article I, section 1 of the Constitution: ‘All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.’ It doesn’t say, ‘Congress may delegate its legislative Powers to the Executive.’ Arguably, the ‘shall’ language forbids that! Article I, section 8 does give the Congress the authority…

Agencies require masters and Phds amongst their experts.

Those people need to be paid, and their services accounted for.

Those outreach and comms programs also need to be handled.

Congress can’t add 300 days into 24 hours. So this is a reading of law kinda like an absolutist readings of a text.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#404

Post by tzs » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 7:47 AM UTC

Alupis wrote: post #358

mulmen wrote: post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only the income on the investment is taxed though. The capital isn’t double taxed. I’d love to abolish regressive sales taxes and return to 1950s level progressive income tax rates. You have my vote.

Progressive income tax is also silly. Just because you earn more money than someone else doesn't mean you derive more benefits from the government. The idea of "Paying what you can afford" is BS everywhere it's been implemented - from school tuition to soccer camp to taxes. Everyone feels burned and like the "others" aren't paying what they should be. Federal taxes should be a flat percentage, no deductions, no credi…

> Progressive income tax is also silly. Just because you earn more money than someone else doesn't mean you derive more benefits from the government

Ok...

> Federal taxes should be a flat percentage, no deductions, no credits, no so-called "loop holes"... nothing. Every citizen pays the same percentage (whatever it needs to be).

Flat percentage? A flat percentage means that if you earn N times what someone else earns you pay N times as much tax as they do.

But you just said a couple of paragraphs earlier that just because you earn more money that someone else doesn't mean you derive more benefits from the government. If that's going to be the basis of your tax policy shouldn't the tax be a flat amount?

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#405

Post by WickyNilliams » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 9:23 AM UTC

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #42

guidedlight wrote: post #10

They should ban hidden taxes too. The sticker price should be the final price.

I remember shopping in Japan. The price on the tag, is exactly what you pay (same with services, like hotels). Since this is Japan, it's a high price, but no surprises. Also, the service is amazing , and they won't accept tips. If you leave money on the table, they will chase after you, to give it back.

I have done a fair bit of travelling. The US is the only place I've been where the price shown is not the price paid. Adding on tips, and it becomes nigh on impossible to know how much something will cost you upfront. It's ridiculous tbh

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#406

Post by _zoltan_ » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 9:28 AM UTC

flutas wrote: post #297

ssl-3 wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't really work like that, though. Sales tax is up to the states to sort out how to deal with on their own, and there's 50 of them. Nationally (or as some may prefer, "federallly"), the sales tax rate is already zero -- and has always been zero.

> Sales tax is up to the states to sort out how to deal with on their own, and there's 50 of them. To add on for any else trying to figure out the 13k number from this statement. Counties can also apply their own additional taxes. Cities can also apply their own additional taxes. On top of just that, the cities and counties can set different taxes in the same area, such as a sugar tax or an alcohol tax or even a pre-…

it can get really easy: just don't let this madness sprawl out of control? :)

per state, I understand the tax. set it per state, and be done with it. maybe split it in some % with the city (I don't know if cities directly get a portion of it already or not?), so it's a win-win.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#407

Post by mulmen » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 9:31 AM UTC

tokioyoyo wrote: post #398

mulmen wrote: post #368

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about billboards or banner ads? When an ISP in Japan wants to advertise their service do they include a price on the billboard? What you describe sounds like the same thing that happens in the US. So what's special about Australia, Japan, and Denmark as you stated earlier?

Why wouldn’t they? Major ones are electronic, and you know the areas you are putting up your ads in, so you include the tax in it. You go to the store, sales tax either included in the price, or written in smaller font with the tax included price. It actually happens in NA for specific industries as well! If you buy a flight from Google flights without making any additional purchases, you will get the sticker price b…

Not sure how telco taxes work in Japan but it would be impossible to advertise an accurate tax-included price in my city because not all the residents of the metro area have the same tax structure. Zip code isn't enough. The full address is required. So TV and print advertisements are pre-tax. I don't see how it could work any other way.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#408

Post by mulmen » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 9:37 AM UTC

tokioyoyo wrote: post #357

mulmen wrote: post #316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The only reason why status quo is there because people are less likely to remove items from their online shopping carts once they've added it. Sure, in a world where the actual sticker price is displayed. Do you believe this will remain true when customers have to add items to the cart to get the “real” price?

That's literally how it works everywhere else...? For example, when I go to amazon.jp, even without logging in, it will show you tax included prices once you enter your postal code.

Ok I see what you mean now. On an ecommerce site this works but I don't see how it can be done in advertising.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#409

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 9:53 AM UTC

LorenPechtel wrote: post #361

breadwinner wrote: post #140

This shouldn't be controversial. FTC isn't banning these fees, it is only requiring merchants to disclose the fees. Why would anyone be against that? Another good rule is click-to-cancel. Just a couple of days ago I logged into my Dish Network account to cancel it (after they hiked prices). There is no way to cancel online. There is no way to cancel via chat. You have to call. As soon as you call you're told the wait…

The problem with click-to-cancel is that there should be confirmations built into important cancellations. But require it to be practical to do online, with no delays and no requirement about when relative to renewals.

[deleted]

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#410

Post by soco » Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 10:37 AM UTC

theossuary wrote: post #338

throw10920 wrote: post #255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is a move afoot Who is behind this move? What individuals, and what politicians? By what legal means is this happening? I've literally never heard of anything like this before - without further details, this is just political flame-baiting.

You shouldn't assume others are acting in bad faith when the much more likely explanation is you're just not paying attention. Three major developments from the courts in this direction have been: - The overturning of Chevron gave courts the power to interpret portions of laws written by subject matter experts, instead of those experts themselves. - The big questions doctrine has allowed the courts to decide when the…

The Romanian supreme court just decided to block the presidential elections. They might have had reasons, but they definitely didn't have the mandate, yet they decided it nevertheless and because they are supreme nobody can challenge them. I'm sure the US supreme court (and more) is warming up to this concept.